Steam Reforming of Glycerol: Hydrogen Production Optimization

MARÍA EUGENIA SAD; HERNÁN DUARTE; CHARITO VIGNATTI; CRISTINA LILIANA PADRÓ; CARLOS RODOLFO APESTEGUÍA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 40 p. 6097 - 6106

0360-3199

The glycerol steam reforming reaction was studied using Pt-based catalysts in order to selective produce hydrogen. The global steam reforming reaction is the combination of two consecutive steps: i) glycerol decomposition and ii) water gas shift reaction (WGS). Pt supported over solids with markedly different physical and acid-basic properties (SiO2, MgO, Al2O3 and TiO2) were prepared and tested in steam reforming reaction of glycerol (10% wt. aqueous solution) at 573-623 K. Glycerol to gas products conversion of 100% and hydrogen yield of 78.8% were obtained by using Pt over an inert support (Pt/SiO2 prepared from chlorine-free solution). Acidic supports favored undesirable reactions conducting to liquid products and coke precursors. Furthermore, WGS reaction was studied at reaction conditions compatible with steam reforming over Pt/SiO2, Pt/TiO2 and two catalysts prepared for that purpose: Pt/CeO2 and Pt/ZrO2.  Pt/TiO2 showed the highest CO conversion at 623 K. In order to maximize H2 formation, a double-bed catalytic system (0.5% wt. Pt/SiO2 + 0.5% wt. Pt/TiO2) was used achieving a 100 % hydrogen yield without deactivation on stream.